The naming of MBS as prime minister "leaves no doubt that the Crown Prince is entitled to status-based immunity," asserted attorney Michael Kellogg in a filing in the District of Columbia. Therefore, the judge "should dismiss Plaintiffs' claims against the Crown Prince for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction."

Though MBS is the de facto ruler of the kingdom, his previous claims of sovereign immunity were considered weak at best, given he was "only" the crown prince. "Head of state immunity is an absolute, status-based immunity that typically extends to sitting heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers," University of California, Davis law professor William S. Dodge explained at Just Security.